Ayotte, Shaheen Split Over Avoiding Government Shutdown

New Hampshire's U.S. senators were split on a vote to keep government operating past Tuesday.

Republican Kelly Ayotte opposed the measure that, if approved in the House, will avoid a threatened government shutdown. Democrat Jeanne Shaheen voted in favor of the bill. It passed the Senate 54-44 Friday afternoon but faces an uncertain future in the house as the high-stakes stand-off continues into the weekend.

Ayotte says she opposed the measure because it exceeds spending caps and only lasts two months. She says that means the whole crisis will be repeated.

Shaheen called the possibility of a shutdown a "manufactured" crisis orchestrated by a small group of obstructionists in Congress.

Both senators say they hope the differences can be resolved to keep government running.